Writing-guide



(No Model.)

' VAN BUREN WISKER.

WRITING GUIDE.

No. 494,697. Pad-tented A r. 4, 1893.

wlrusssss: INVENTOH STATES PATENT FFIQE.

VAN BUREN \VISKER, OF GREEN RIDGE, MISSOURI.

WRITING-GUIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,697, dated April 4, 1893.

Application filed April 27, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VAN BUREN WISKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Green Ridge, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in NVriting-Guides; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to'which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica- The object of my invention is to produce a device by the help of which a person can easily and effectually write in the dark, a further object is to construct the device in such a manner that it will be strong, durable, easily adjusted, and operated.

To these ends myinvention consists of certain novel features and combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a device embodying the es sential features of my invention: Figure 1 represents a perspective view; Fig. 2, a longinal section; Fig. 3 a detail of the writing guide.

The reference letter A represents a portable hand desk which may be constructed of wood, papier mach, metal or any suitable material. The writing surface of this desk is slightly inclined, while the side sections extends upward some distance above it.

Journaled at the top of the desk in the side sections A is a roller B having one of its trunnions G projecting outbeyond its bearings. Formed on the periphery of this projecting trunnion are a series of notches or ratchet teeth which are engaged by the spring pawl II. By means of this arrangement the roller B may be given a step by step motion. Secured to the roller B and extending longitudinally therewith is a knife or serrated gripper J which serves the double function of holding the paper steady when a pad is used, and for cutting off therequired lengths when roll paper is used.

The roller 13 has formed on its left hand end a series of indentations or finger recesses I,

Serial No. 430,840- (No model.)

by means of which the roller may be rotated step by step, at the will of the operator.

Journaled in the lowerextremity of the desk A is a roller 0, operated by means of a hand crank L. Under this roller the paper from a roll is passed, but when the paper is supplied from the separate sheets in a pad it is clamped and held in place by the knife J. A corrugated hand or finger guide D, is located on the surface of the desk. Extending along the inner side of the sections A of the desk near the surface thereof are a pair of racks E, engaged by spring pawls F'secured to each end of the guide D. The teeth of these racks are shaped like an inverted V, thereby allowing the pawls F to slide over the racks in either direction, but holding them in a positive posi tion when no pressure is applied to the guide. By means of this arrangement the guide may be easily and quickly adj usted at any position on the'surface of the desk.

Formed in the upper side of the guide D, are a series of holes or recesses K in which pins or studs K are placed to indicate the width of the paper used. These pins are adjustable and may be used to indicate any width that can be placed on the desk.

To use my device a pad of paper is placed on the desk A and by means of the knife or gripperJ on roller B it is securely clamped in place. The guide D is then moved up to the top of the sheet and the writing begun. After the first line has been filled the guide is moved down one notch of the racks E or any number that the operator may desire, and the second line begun. The guide D serves to direct the hand laterally while the pins K prevent the operator from writing off the paper.

When roll paper is used the roll itself is located apart from the machine and the sheet as it is unwound therefrom passed under the rolls 0 and B and over the top or writing surface of the desk. The guide D is then used as before explained, but when it runs to the lower end of the sheet, the latter is caught by its free end and pulled out from under the roll 0, a sufficient distance to present a new or unwritten sheet to the operator, the written or used end is then torn off. When this has been accomplished the guide D is then moved to the top of the desk surface and the above described operation repeated. By this means the roll is converted into sheets of regular lengths and sizes as fast as used.

It will readily appear that this device may be used with great advantages by persons in the dark and also by blind persons, as the parts are very simple and the device can be easily manipulated without looking at it.

It is evident that many slight changes in my device might be resorted to by a skilled artisan without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, therefore I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction herein set forth but consider myself entitled to all such variations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a suitable writing surface, of a writing guide movable thereon, spring actuated pawls in the ends of said guide, rack bars engaged by the pawls, a pair of rollers located on either side of the writing guide and under which the paper passes, a serrated knife or gripper rigidly secured to one of the rollers, and pins or studs adj ustable on the writing guide said pin serving to indicate the width of the paper written upon, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a suitable writing surface, of a writing guide movable thereon, rollers located on either side of the guide and a paper gripper rigidly secured to one of the rollers and serving to hold the paper in place, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a suitable writing surface, of a writing guide movable thereon, spring actuated pawls secured in each end of the said writing guide, rack bars engaged by the same, a pair of revoluble rollers located on either side of the writing guide, a serrated knife or gripper securedrigidly to one of said rollers, a pawl and ratchet device operating with the roller having the gripper,a crank for rotating the remaining roller and width registering pins on the writing guide, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VAN BUREN WISKER. \Vitnesses:

J. E. BEAM, JAMES S. BEAM. 

